Cooperation with States: ESA Section 6 Program
Program Overview | Section 6 Agreements | Section 6 Grants | Contacts
Overview
Section 6 of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (ESA) provides a mechanism for cooperation between NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) and States in the conservation of threatened, endangered, and candidate species.
Under section 6, NMFS is authorized to enter into agreements with any State that establishes and maintains an "adequate and active" program for the conservation of endangered and threatened species. Once a State enters into such an agreement, NMFS is authorized to assist in, and provide Federal funding for, implementation of the State's conservation program.
Federal funding, provided in the form of grants, can be used to support management, outreach, research, and monitoring projects that have direct conservation benefits for listed species, recently de-listed species, and candidate species that reside within that State.
Agreements
Cooperative conservation partnerships between NMFS and States can be formalized by entering into agreements pursuant to section 6 of the ESA. The following States, through their appropriate state agencies, currently hold section 6 agreements with NMFS (year effective noted in parentheses):
- Delaware (2007)
- Florida (2003)
- Georgia (1990)
- Hawaii (2006)
- Maine (2005)
- Maryland (1998)
- Massachusetts (1996)
- New Jersey (2004)
- New York (1992)
- North Carolina (2000)
- Puerto Rico (2003)
- South Carolina (1984)
- U.S. Virgin Islands (2003)
- Washington (2008)
Contacts
Any State or U.S. Territory that wishes to enter into a section 6 agreement with NMFS should contact a Section 6 Coordinator for guidance on how to apply.
Lisa Manning
NMFS Office of Protected Resources
301-713-1401
Amanda Johnson
NMFS Northeast Regional Office
978-281-9300 x 6513
Karla Reece
NMFS Southeast Regional Office
727-824-5348
Scott Rumsey
NMFS Northwest Regional Office
503-872-2791
Scott Hill
NMFS Southwest Regional Office
562-980-4029
Krista Graham
NMFS Pacific Islands Regional Office
808-944-2238
Kaja Brix
NMFS Alaska Regional Office
907-586-7824